What has become known as the Seneca-Ferryville Broadband Expansion Project is now underway and is designed to significantly increase Internet speed for numerous households in those areas of Crawford County. The project also has the potential to attract businesses to the Ferryville and Seneca areas.

The privately-owned Satter Building, located on Dunn Street in Prairie du Chien, has sat abandoned for several years. A suspected criminal was spotted inside the building Monday night. Prairie du Chien police officers are currently trying to locate him.

The Prairie du Chien Police Department is trying to locate a suspect who was found in the abandoned O.E. Satter Building in Prairie du Chien Monday night, Aug. 31, but fled on foot from the scene, according to Police Chief Chad Abram.

At 9:40 p.m., Monday, the police department was notified of a male suspect in the Satter Building at 111 W. Dunn St. Police officers contacted Deputy Joe Breeser and K9 Breck to assist with entering the building.

Officers arrived on scene and noticed the suspect inside the building. They gained entry through a broken window and attempted to apprehend and question the suspect. As the officers entered the building, the suspect fled on foot to another portion of the building and eventually out of the building. Officers then pursued the suspect, who was last seen near the Mississippi River, west of the Highway 18 Bypass.

Council approves TIF assistance for new clinic

By Correne Martin

The Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) Bus system looks to add a La Farge route to its service in the near future. This decision is based upon anticipation of 5,000 additional rides annually and $5,000 in program support each year from La Farge’s Organic Valley, which would be the catalyst for the extra rides.

The Prairie du Chien Common Council approved an amendment to operating assistance for the system during its bi-monthly meeting Tuesday night. The council also approved a services agreement with Organic Valley.

“We’re always looking at expanding the services of the SMRT system and making it more efficient,” City Planner Garth Frable stated, “especially when the state continues to cut back on our aid to systems like this.”

During her stop in Prairie du Chien Tuesday afternoon, Senator Baldwin also visited the site of the Aug. 30 train derailment near Campion Boat Landing and discussed changes that need to be made to local railroads and regulation of them. (Photo by Aaron Kramer)

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin was in Prairie du Chien Tuesday touring the St. Feriole Island river wall with city and county officials and discussing her legislation to boost waterfront revitalization efforts. The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act would support community efforts to make the most of water resources by attracting water-dependent industries and investments that leverage water sustainably, revitalizing neighborhoods, and enhancing recreation and tourism.

The Prairie du Chien girls’ golf team hosted their annual Prairie Invitational at the Prairie du Chien Country Club on Friday, Aug. 28. Arcadia, Darlington, G-E-T, Lancaster, Southwestern/Benton/Cuba City, and Westby/Viroqua came to play even though rainy conditions prevailed.

Three railroad cars owned by Avalon Grain, of Madison, derailed and a fourth was damaged near the Campion Boat Landing in Prairie du Chien Sunday, Aug. 30, between 5 and 6 p.m. The train was headed to Mexico and carrying around 4,000 bushels of corn per car. According to a local grain authority, the current going rate for corn is $3.60 per bushel­—meaning a potential loss of more than $50,000 in corn alone. The train was traveling on Wisconsin & Southern Railroad track, about to switch to Burlington Northern Santa Fe track, at the time of the derailment. A witness said there were about a dozen people who saw the cars fall over as the train was moving at a relatively slow speed. “The noise was deafening. It was kinda scary. Everybody got away from the tracks,” said the witness, who did not want to be identified. The derailment caused a big hole next to the tracks.

On Sunday, July 26, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department initially investigated a report of a residential burglary at 106 Railway Ave. in the village of Soldiers Grove.

During the night hours of Saturday, July 25, or the early morning hours of Sunday, July 26, the residence was entered and a black gun safe was stolen. The 59” x 20” gun safe contained Browning rifles, ammunition, cash, and a Michael Jordan rookie card.

The Crawford County Crime Stoppers urges anyone having information about this or any other crimes to call 326-8933 or 1-866-779-PAYS. Anyone calling either of these numbers with a Crime Stoppers tip will remain anonymous and a reward of up to $1,000 will be paid for a tip which solves a crime with an arrest, charges being filed or recovery of stolen property.

A suspect is being investigated in relation to four cases of counterfeit bills presented at Crawford County businesses over the last couple months, according to Sheriff Dale McCullick.

Fake $100, $20 and $10 bills were used to purchase goods at The Port, Tractor Supply and Piggly Wiggly, all in Bridgeport Township. Also, a customer attempted to use an imitation bill at Casey’s General Store, in Prairie du Chien Township, but the clerk caught it before it was accepted.

‘These were smaller than normal size bills and the color was off,” McCullick said, noting that they were likely made via a home computer and printer.

In these four cases, the businesses that accepted the bills may be out the money in the long run. McCullick said the sheriff’s department sends them into the U.S. Secret Service and the businesses aren’t always reimbursed.